Saturday, January 20
Stockton, Calif.
6:00 p.m. PT
Pepperdine University
at
Pacific
Photo by: Kyle Cajero
Bout with Pacific up next for Pepperdine Women's Basketball
1/19/2024 11:47:00 AM | Women's Basketball
STOCKTON, Calif. — Concluding its two-game road trip to Northern California, the Pepperdine women's basketball team looks to get back in the win column at Pacific this Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
Pacific holds an 18-10 advantage in the all-time series and the Tigers have won four of the last five meetings between the two teams. Pepperdine has a 1-11 record in the Alex G. Spanos Center; its last win was during the 2000-01 non-conference season when the Tigers were part of the Big West Conference.
GAME #18: Pepperdine at Pacific | Saturday, Jan. 20 | Alex G. Spanos Center | Stockton, Calif. | ESPN+ | 6 p.m. PT
SCOUTING THE WAVES
The Waves are moving on from a 92-36 loss at Santa Clara on Thursday, in which the Broncos shot 65.5% from the field, forced 17 Pepperdine turnovers and held the Waves offense without a made three for the first time this season.
In that game, Megan Harkey led the Waves with 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting, Jorynn Ross and Emerita Mashaire chipped in six points apiece, plus Mi'Cole Cayton — who will be playing in her hometown for the first time in her collegiate career Saturday — added five points off the bench.
Individually, Jane Nwaba continues to lead the Waves in nearly every statistical category, averaging 9.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Her five double-doubles lead the team; she has been Pepperdine's leading scorer in four games, the team's leading rebounder in 10 games and the team's leader in assists in six games. During conference play, Pepperdine has gotten a boost from Helena Friend, who has averaged 6.8 points per game while starting in the last two games.
As a team, Pepperdine still hangs its hat on defense. The Waves rank second in field goal percentage defense (39.3%), fourth in three-point percentage defense (29.1%) and second with 4.24 blocks per game.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Picked tied for third in the WCC Preseason Poll, Pacific has oscillated between blowout wins and losses over the last three games. The Tigers have a 1-1 record in close games in conference play and a 1-1 record at home thus far, but begin a two-game homestand on Saturday against Pepperdine.
Pacific is coming off a 75-48 road win at San Diego, in which graduate forward Cecilia Holmberg led the Tigers with a career-high 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting. Four players finished in double-figures and Pacific never trailed in its biggest win of WCC play.
The Tigers have adapted to life without All-WCC First Team selection and leading scorer Liz Smith, who has been out for undisclosed reasons since Pacific's game against Saint Mary's on Jan. 4. Center Elizabeth Elliott has been Pacific's leading scorer in her stead, averaging 14.1 points per game on 60.8% shooting — all of which comes from inside the arc. Elliott is the WCC's fifth-leading scorer and ranks 11th in rebounds with 5.8 per game.
Among WCC teams, Pacific ranks second to Gonzaga with 73.2 points per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Its defense, however, has been a different story: The Tigers rank last in the WCC, giving up 68.8 points per game on 40.2% shooting (5th-WCC) and 33.8% from three (8th-WCC).
UP NEXT: Pepperdine returns to Malibu for a game against Portland on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at tickets.pepperdinewaves.com.
Pacific holds an 18-10 advantage in the all-time series and the Tigers have won four of the last five meetings between the two teams. Pepperdine has a 1-11 record in the Alex G. Spanos Center; its last win was during the 2000-01 non-conference season when the Tigers were part of the Big West Conference.
GAME #18: Pepperdine at Pacific | Saturday, Jan. 20 | Alex G. Spanos Center | Stockton, Calif. | ESPN+ | 6 p.m. PT
SCOUTING THE WAVES
The Waves are moving on from a 92-36 loss at Santa Clara on Thursday, in which the Broncos shot 65.5% from the field, forced 17 Pepperdine turnovers and held the Waves offense without a made three for the first time this season.
In that game, Megan Harkey led the Waves with 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting, Jorynn Ross and Emerita Mashaire chipped in six points apiece, plus Mi'Cole Cayton — who will be playing in her hometown for the first time in her collegiate career Saturday — added five points off the bench.
Individually, Jane Nwaba continues to lead the Waves in nearly every statistical category, averaging 9.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Her five double-doubles lead the team; she has been Pepperdine's leading scorer in four games, the team's leading rebounder in 10 games and the team's leader in assists in six games. During conference play, Pepperdine has gotten a boost from Helena Friend, who has averaged 6.8 points per game while starting in the last two games.
As a team, Pepperdine still hangs its hat on defense. The Waves rank second in field goal percentage defense (39.3%), fourth in three-point percentage defense (29.1%) and second with 4.24 blocks per game.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Picked tied for third in the WCC Preseason Poll, Pacific has oscillated between blowout wins and losses over the last three games. The Tigers have a 1-1 record in close games in conference play and a 1-1 record at home thus far, but begin a two-game homestand on Saturday against Pepperdine.
Pacific is coming off a 75-48 road win at San Diego, in which graduate forward Cecilia Holmberg led the Tigers with a career-high 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting. Four players finished in double-figures and Pacific never trailed in its biggest win of WCC play.
The Tigers have adapted to life without All-WCC First Team selection and leading scorer Liz Smith, who has been out for undisclosed reasons since Pacific's game against Saint Mary's on Jan. 4. Center Elizabeth Elliott has been Pacific's leading scorer in her stead, averaging 14.1 points per game on 60.8% shooting — all of which comes from inside the arc. Elliott is the WCC's fifth-leading scorer and ranks 11th in rebounds with 5.8 per game.
Among WCC teams, Pacific ranks second to Gonzaga with 73.2 points per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Its defense, however, has been a different story: The Tigers rank last in the WCC, giving up 68.8 points per game on 40.2% shooting (5th-WCC) and 33.8% from three (8th-WCC).
UP NEXT: Pepperdine returns to Malibu for a game against Portland on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at tickets.pepperdinewaves.com.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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